Joshua 24:15 – As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Charles Wesley penned the following words:

A charge to keep I have, a God to glorify

An ever-dying soul to save and fit it for the sky

To serve this present age, my calling to fulfill

O may all my powers engage, to do my Master’s will.

If you are like me, you probably think the world is in a downward spiral headed for destruction.  Watching TV today either angers or saddens you!  It is filled with murder, kidnapping, hidden agendas, lies, distorted opinions, false advertising, sex, and whatever else comes to mind.  This downward spiral makes one wonder, “Where are the servants of the Most High God?  Where is the body of Christ?”  I often ask the question and what comes to mind is that we may have forgotten the charge and the covenant.

I am here to sound the clarion.  We have a charge to keep.  We must serve the Lord!!

If you read Joshua 24 in its entirety, you find that a charge was given to the Israelites as they settled in the Promised Land.  Joshua reminded the Israelites of what God had done for them.

  • God led Abraham to Canaan and gave him many descendants (starting with Isaac, Esau and Jacob.)
  • God sent Moses and Aaron to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian bondage.
  • God parted the Red Sea so the Israelites could not only cross on dry land, but so that they could see the salvation of the Lord.
  • God delivered the Israelites from enemies like the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites.  The Israelites did not have a sword!
  • God gave the Israelites land for which they did not toil, cities they did not build, and they got to eat from vineyards and olive groves for which they did not plant.

After Joshua reminded them of God’s blessings, he gave them a charge; “Fear the Lord and serve Him with all faithfulness.”  He further told them to throw away false gods and serve the Lord.  He went on to tell them, if serving God was undesirable for them, then they should choose this day who they will serve–a foreign god their forefathers served or the god of the people in whose land they were living.  Joshua ended with, “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

I want to ask you the same question–who will you serve?

It is time out for lukewarm faith and lukewarm participation.  There is a war going on and God needs us to fulfill our calling so that we can be effective and victorious in the fight. We have a charge to keep!

You may say, “Well Crystal, I have gotten too old.”  That is no excuse.  God gave Sarah a son at 90!

You may say, “Well Crystal, I am too young.”  That is no excuse.  Solomon became king when he was a child!

You may say, “Well Crystal, I have done so much bad; God doesn’t want to use me.”  That is no excuse.  God used Paul even though he oversaw the killings of many Christians before his conversion.

Friends, we have no excuses! We have a charge to keep!

I am here to sound the clarion.  We have a charge to keep.  WE MUST SERVE THE LORD.

Even when it is hard, we must serve the Lord.

 Even when it is long, we must serve the Lord.

Even through seen and unseen danger, we must serve the Lord.

Work the gift God gave you to serve him!

If it’s to preach, preach!

If it’s to sing, sing!

If it’s to pray, pray!

If it’s to sweep the floor, sweep the floor!

If it’s to care for others, care for others!

Whatever it is, serve the Lord in the capacity he gave you.

Why?

The world is in despair and…

A charge to keep I have, a God to glorify

An ever-dying soul to save and fit it for the sky

To serve this present age, my calling to fulfill

O may all my powers engage, to do my Master’s will.

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!  What will you do?